Signal system for railways.



W. H. G|LMAN.

SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1913.

1,220,089. Patented Mar. 20,1917.

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SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 3, 1913.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

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W. H. GILMAN.

SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1913.

1,220,089. I Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

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WILLARD H. GILIVIAN, 0E BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Ma 1320, 1917.

Application filed April 3, 1913. Serial No. 758,583.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, V'TILLARD H. GILMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Systems for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signal systems.

strument set forth in the following descrip tion, the novel features of both of which' are particularly pointed out and defined in the claims at the close thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a diagram of my improved signal system for railways.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one of the fusee torch instruments hereinafter described;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the instrument shown in Fig. 2. f

Fig. 4 is a side view of the instrument shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Having reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a and 5 represent the two rails of a single track railway which are divided into insulated sections A, B, C, etc., arranged in pairs, each pair being connected by wires 1 and 2 with a track battery 3.

Opposite the sections A, B, C, etc., there is provided a series of torch instruments A, A etc., each of which comprises two electro-magnets 4 and 5. The electro-magnet 5 of the instrument A has one end of its winding connected by a wire 6 with the armature 7 of a magnet 8 forming part of the track relay R and this armature 7 normally rests against a stationary contact 8 that is connected by a wire 7 with the opposite end of the winding of the magnet 5. The ends of the winding of the magnet track relay R. The armature 14 of the magnet 13 is connected by a wire 15 with one end of the winding of magnet 4 of instrument A and the opposite end of this winding is connected by a wire 16 with the stationary contact 17 against which. the armature 14 normally rests. Sections C, D, etc., are likewise provided with track relays R and R connected, respectively, with the magnets 5 and 4 of the two adjacent sections at the left and right of it.

The torch instruments A, A etc., are all constructed alike and are so arranged that normally the two magnets 4 and 5 are energized but when both of these magnets are deenergized a fusee torch is automatically lighted and displayed, the construction being such that the opening of the circuit of either magnet is without effect on the torch instrument and the latter is operated to light and display a torch only when the circuits of both magnets 4 and 5 are open at the same time.'

When an east bound train enters section C it short circuits track battery 3 of that section thereby causing the armatures 7 and 14 thereof to open the circuit of magnet 5 at instrument A and the circuit of magnet 4 at instrument A and throughout the travel of the train from W toward E it automaticallymaintains a magnet 5 de'e'nergized at the rear anda magnet 4 deenergized ahead of said train. When a train traveling toward W enters section C it likewise deenergizes the magnet 5 of instrument A and the magnet 4 of the instrument A and throughout the travel of a train toward W it maintains a magnet 5 deenergized ahead and a magnet 4 deenergized behind it. It

will therefore be clear that with an east bound train on section C the entrance of a west bound train on section E will cause both magnets 4 and 5 of instruments A to be deenergized and this instrument will thereupon automatically light and display one of its torches. It will also be clear that with an east bound train on section G the entrance of another east bound train on section A will cause both magnets .4 and 5 of instrument A to be deenergized and this instrument will automaticallylight' and display one of its torches. Likewise with a west bound train on section C the entrance of another west bound train on section E will cause both magnets 4 and 5 of instrument A to be deenergized with the result that said instrument will light and display one of its torches. In this way both headon and rear-end protection is afforded the trains. traveling in either direction over the road. In the best form of my invention the instruments A, etc., are so constructed that when two trains moving either in the same direction or in opposite directions approach each other to a predetermined extent a fusee torch of one color is automatically lighted and displayed between those trains to prevent collision and when one of those trains moves away from the other or stops in response to this signal then a second fusee torch of another color is automatically lighted and displayed as soon as the two trains have separated or drawn apart to a predetermined extent. That is to say, when a train, either opposing or following, enters the block occupied by another train a fusee torch of one color, say red, is automatically lighted and displayed between them to prevent collision and then when the intruding train withdraws from said block a fusee torch of another color, say green, is automatically lighted and displayed to notify the train having the right of way that the block is clear. This mode of operation is secured through wiring the system as shown in Fig. 1 and in constructing the instruments A, etc, in the fashion I will now proceed to describe.

Each torch instrument A, A etc, comprises a frame 18 on which are journaled two shafts 19 and 20 carrying, respectively, sprocket wheels 21 and 22. Over the sprocket wheels 21 and 22 extends a sprocket chain 23, to one end of which is fastened a relatively light weight 24 and to the opposite end a relatively heavy weight 25. That portion of chain 23 which extends between the two sprocket wheels 21 and 22 is supported by a cross bar 26, provided along its edge with slightly upturned hooks 27 and 28, the hooks 27 along one edge of bar 26 being staggered with relation to the hooks 28 along the opposite edge. These hooks 27 ano 28 are provided to support two sets of fusee torches 29 and 30, the torches 29 being made to burn with a red light and the torches 30 being made to burn with a green light. At its upper end each torch is provided with a wire loop 31 which hangs on its hook 27 or 28, and through its lower end extends a soft iron wire 32 which is embedded in a priming provided at the lower end of the torch.

Near the top of the frame 18 two bars 33 and 34 of insulating material are provided, one at each side of the cross bar 26 which supports the chain 23. To the top of each bar 33 and 34 is secured a plurality of isolated spring contacts 35 and to the under side of each bar 33 and 34 is secured a conductor 36 from which projects a series of spring contacts 35.

spring contacts 35, the rigid contacts 37 each being arranged immediately below and normally out of engagement with one of the To the inner side of each bar 33 and 34 is fastened a metallic conductor 38 pro ided with wire receiving holes and binding screws 39. One end of the soft iron wire 32 of each torch 29 is connected by a wire 40 with one of the conductors 38 to which it is fastened by means of the binding screws 39. The. other end of the soft wire 32 of each torch 29 is connected by a wire 41 with one of the spring contacts 35 adjacent said conductor 38 to wnieh it is fastened by means of a binding screw 42. The soft iron wire 32 of the torches 30 are likewise connected with the contacts 35 and conductor 38 at the opposite side of the instrument.

To the chain 23 is fastened a bar 43 whose ends are about in line with the two rows of hooks 27 and 28. The shaft 20 which carries the sprocket wheel 22 also has fixed to it an escapement wheel 44 provided on its periphery with two circumferential rows of pins 45 and 46, the pins of one of these rows being staggered with relation to those of the other row. The wheel 44 cooperates with a pallet 47 projecting from an armature 48 which is controlled and operated by the two electro-magnets 4 and 5. That is, the single armature 48 is controlled by both magnets 4 and 5 coiperating with a weighted arm 49 provided on armature 48.

The upper end of the pallet 47 is arranged close to the wheel 44 and between the two rows of pins 45 and 46, said pallet being provided at one side thereof with a pin 50 coiiperating with the pins 45 and. at the opposite side thereof with a pin 51 cotip crating with the pins 46. Normally the magnets 4 and 5 are energized and arma ture 48 is held thereby at the limit of its movement toward the right, Fig. 4, with one of the pins 45 held by the weight 25 against the pin 50 on pallet 47.

lVhen a train enters one of the two blocks with which the instrument is connected one of the magnets 4 or 5 is deenergized as described above, but this is without effect because the other magnet 4 or 5 continues to hold the armature against being moved by the weight 49. hen this train passes out of the track section the magnet which was deenergized by the entrance of that train into that section is reenergized and the instrument restored to normal condition. Should, however a following train or an opposing train intrude upon the block 0ccupied by the first train, then the other magnet will be denergized while the first one is det nergized with the result that the weighted arm 49 will swing armature 48 and pallet 47 to the left, Fig. 4, carrying the pin 50 out of the path of the pins and the pin 51 into the path of the pins 46. This permits weight 25 to move chain 23 toward the right, Fig. 3, until one of the pins 46 strikes the pin 51.

During this limited movement of chain 23 the cross bar 43 is carried past one of the hooks 27 and acts to shove one of the red fusees off from its hook 27, and said fusee falls down into a position outside of the instrument where it hangs suspended by the wires 40 and 41. hen the fusee is thus dropped out of the instrument and hangs suspended by its wires 40 and 41 its weight bends the spring contact 36, with which it is connected, down on to the rigid contact 3'? cooperating therewith and thereby closes a local circuit through the soft iron wire 32 of that torch. This heats the wire 32 to a degree suflicient to ignite the priming of the torch. As soon as one of the trains passes out of the block with which the instrument is connected one of the magnets 4 or 5 is renergized and attracts the armature 48 carrying the pin 51 on pallet 47 out of cooperative relation with pins 46 and the pin on the pallet 47 into the path of the pins 45 which permits wheel 44 to make another step movement under the influence of weight 25. This carries the cross bar 43 on chain 23 past one of the hooks 28 whereupon one of the green fusees 30 is shoved off from its hook 28 and said fusee falls out of the instrument and is lighted in the same fashion as was the first red fusee. Thus when a train intrudes upon an occupied block a red fusee is automatically lighted and displayed between those trains however they may be traveling over the road, and as soon as the block is clear of one of those trains this fact is announced by the automatic lighting and displaying of a green fusee.

From the above description it will be clear that in my improved system a block thereof consists of any three adjacent sections and that while a train is traveling in either direction over the road it is protected front and rear from collision and from a broken rail, since a broken rail at any point on the road will open the circuit of the track battery 3 of that section and have the same effect on the two torch holding instruments connected with that section as a train on said section would have.

The two conductors 38 at each torch instrument are connected by a wire with one pole of a battery 61 whose opposite pole is connected by wires 62 with the two con ductors 36 from which the rigid contacts 37 project. Thus when a torch is dropped at any one of the instruments a local circuit Copies of this patent may be obtained for is closed through the battery 61 of that instrument and through the soft iron wire of the torch that is dropped.

What I claim is 1. A signal system for railways comprising a section of track; a plurality of fusee torch holding Qinstruments adjacent said track and provided with fusee torches of different colors, and means operated by trains or units traveling over said track for controlling said torch holding instruments so that when one train or unit approaches within a predetermined distance of another train or unit a fusee torch of one color is automatically lighted and displayed between said trains or units and when one of said trains or units moves away from the other train or unit to a predetermined distance a fusee torch of another color is automatically lighted and displayed between said trains or units.

2. A signal system for railways comprising a length of track divided into insulated sections; means connected with said sections so as to provide protective blocks for trains or units traveling over said road, said means including a plurality of fusee torch holding instruments provided with fusee torches of different colors, and means operated by trains or units traveling over said road for controlling said torch holding instruments so that when a train or unit intrudes upon a block occupied by another train or unit a fusee torch of one color is automatically lighted and displayed between said trains or units, and when one of said trains or units is moved from said block a fusee torch of another col-or is automatically lighted and displayed between said trains or units.

3. A signal system for railways comprising a section of track; a plurality of fusee torch holding instruments adjacent said track provided with fusee torches of different characteristics, and means operated by trains or units traveling over said track for controlling said torch holding instruments so that when one train or unit approaches within a predetermined distance of another train or unit a fusee torch of one characteristic is automatically lighted and displayed between said trains or units and when one of said trains or units moves away from the other train or unit to a predetermined distance a fusee torch of another characteristic is automatically lighted and displayed between said trains or units.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLARD H. GTLMAN.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR F. RANDALL, AMOS J. Wnnsrnn.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IE'atencs, Washington. D. 0. 

